First of all, I don't own Harry Potter characters or Hogwarts or any of that wonderful pizzazz.

OK, now that's over - this first chapter is a little more serious than I originally thought it would be, but I swear it will get lighter as Harry leaves the picture. Please read and review … I promise you'll like it – and if you don't, let me know!

The Fireplace

by Hayna

Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger sat together quietly around the fire in Gryffindor common room. None of them wanted to break the spell of silence, which seemed to have settled upon them ever since suppertime, but all knew what had to be said.

"So." Harry finally sighed, jerking Ron out of a reverie, "I guess this is it." His plain statements were enough to cajole Hermione into a stream of nearly incoherent words.

"Oh Harry – we wish there was more we could DO… you have no idea how much it hurts, how hard it is to see you go off like this… alone, without us." Hermione was near tears as she placed a hand on top of Harry's.

"I'm not scared, or anything" Harry said quickly, pulling his hand away from under Hermione's as if to reassure her of his composure, "It's just that I know I can't fuck this up – or we're all… fucked." Ron grinned at this excellent phraseology, "Well said, mate!" he chuckled nervously, trying and failing miserably to lighten the mood. Hermione glared at the redhead until he looked away ashamedly.

"You won't be completely by yourself, Harry." Hermione reminded him in what she felt was a reassuring voice. "Dumbledore will be with you."

"Yeah, but Dumbledore isn't gonna be the one facing Voldemort and trying to destroy him, on the smallest chance that the "dark lord" can die, while at the same time trying to keep himself alive." His hands were trembling and he was pale as a ghost.

"You don't look well, Harry. Maybe you should rest awhile." Hermione said in a small, concerned voice.

Suddenly it was as if an explosion had gone off. Harry stood instantly and began to yell furiously at his two best friends.

"Would you look well if you had Voldemort living in your head every few minutes?" He asked them feverishly, watching their eyes grow with alarm and surprise. "What if you dreamt horrible things every time you laid down to sleep … if you were singled out as a victim – as a murderer – just because of who you were born to be!"

"Calm down, mate." Ron finally interrupted sharply. "Don't yell at Hermione, she's only trying to help." He put a hand on Harry's shoulder and gently pushed him back into his chair. Harry looked from Ron to Hermione, his best friends in the world, and without warning began to sob.

"Oh bloody hell, I'm sorry." He said, tears streaming down his face. "I don't mean to take it out on you two. It's just … the pressure, and knowing I might, well, die tomorrow, and that if I do, Voldemort will gain power again, and – its just hard to take it all in."

"Harry – " Hermione threw her arms around him, sobbing as well. "Dumbledore won't let you die. He knows there's a good chance you can break Voldemort's power or he never would have sent you on the mission in the first place. And, no matter what, we won't let you die! I've spent too long tutoring you in Charms to waste it now."

"Erm, yeah." Ron agreed in a shaky voice, uncomfortably watching his best friend cry. "We'll do whatever we can, and erm … send you loads of owls, and whatnot." He pat Harry shyly on the back a few times before finding the need to rummage furiously through his book bag.

"You guys have already done so much." Harry sniffed, wiping his eyes and adding a weak "thanks."

It was true. The second Harry had received his owl from the Order, informing him of the top-secret mission he was to embark upon; he enlightened Ron and Hermione of its details. Ron remembered the conversation that followed the arrival of Harry's letter vividly. All three of them had talked excitedly about the opportunity to get rid of You-know-who, confidently ignoring the danger involved. Ron, for one, had been jealous of his friend's chance at adventure and danger. It seemed to him that Harry was always the one to have the most fun. However, now that the time neared for Harry to actually ship out and go, Ron felt anything but jealous.

From the beginning, Ron and Hermione helped their friend research and practice curses and defenses, spells and charms – anything that might help him defeat the Dark Lord. Now, all their time, practice, bruises and late-night planning were to be put to use. The next morning, Harry was to leave Ron and Hermione behind – perhaps forever – to go with Dumbledore on a journey to a secret location where he would duel with the Dark Lord. If Harry were triumphant, the wizarding world would be peaceful once again, but if he failed, it meant danger and death for him and many others.

Finally Harry straightened up and wiped the last tears from his eyes. "It's got to be done." He remarked hopelessly before adding, "I'm going to bed."

Ron and Hermione nodded and watched as Harry's dark frame ascended the staircase alone.

"He won't sleep a wink tonight." Ron predicted correctly to his girlfriend. Hermione agreed, nodding – "I wish there was more we could do." She murmured in frustration.

"We've done all we can, love." Ron told her, pulling her into his lap and trying to comfort her despite his own feelings of fear and despair. They sat awhile in front of the fire, both thinking deeply, until a sharp tapping at the window caused Ron to jump so badly that he nearly pushed Hermione into the fire.

"Nothing scares you, does it Ron?" She asked him sarcastically as she went to let in the owl that was beating its beak impatiently against the window. The dark brown barn owl dropped a package on the table next to Ron before swooping majestically back outside into the chilly December night.

"What's this?" Ron asked curiously, "It's addressed to us."

"What do you mean?!" Hermione snapped, whipping the small package out of Ron's hands. She quickly scanned the enigmatic label, which read:

Ron Weasley & Hermione Granger

The Fire Place of Gryffindor Tower

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

20 Years in the Future

It was written in a hand that looked vaguely familiar.

"What does that mean?!" Hermione exclaimed in confusion.

"Open it." Ron advised her simply. She began to unfold the paper wrapped around the outside of the package. As she shook the wrinkly and yellowish parchment, something fell out and landed with a clang onto the table.

"It's a key." Ron observed, moving to pick it up.

"Stop!" Hermione shrieked, knocking his hand away, "God only knows what that key could do. – It could be sent from Voldemort or something." Ron examined the key again. It was a dirty goldish color with an intricately spiraled head. Without knowing why, he knew that he had to pick it up.

"We won't know unless we try, will we?" Ron said at last, quickly snatching up the key before Hermione could stop him. She gasped loudly and his heart was racing, but nothing happened. Truthfully, Ron was disappointed.

"Well, this is a mystery, isn't it?" Hermione sniffed, obviously still scared.

"I guess so." Ron said. "Does the paper say anything?"

"Not a bloody word"

"Weird. Well, I suppose we should go up to bed." Ron commented nonchalantly, seemingly unconcerned by the clueless key package.

"Yes." Hermione agreed suspiciously, knowing Ron must be up to something but too preoccupied with other anxieties to care much. "Make sure Harry is alright, will you?" Ron nodded before pulling her into a hug. She squeezed him hard and whispered "everything will be ok." She kissed the redhead lightly and walked up to her dormitory.

Ron lingered a second longer, staring at the key, which glinted in the firelight, before pocketing it and walking up his own staircase.

"You know, mate – " Harry's voice came from behind the curtains of his four-poster, " – I think of the weirdest things when I'm scared shitless."

Ron had just gotten into bed when Harry began talking. He wanted to think of anything except Harry's future ordeal, but humored his best friend. "What d'you think of?" Ron asked.

"Well, I was just wondering – do you think everything now would be completely different if one little event in the past was changed just a bit?"

"Huh?" Ron asked, confused.

"Well, say Snape had been the most popular guy in school when he was at Hogwarts, and every girl here would give anything in the world to be with him – maybe he wouldn't be such a prat now."

"I dunno, Harry." I bet Snape would still be a slimy git even if he'd had sex every day when he was our age." Harry laughed quietly, making a face into the darkness at the thought of Snape having sex.

"Gross, ok bad example, what if … what if my mum had never forgiven my dad – and they still hated each other. Would they still be alive now?"

Ron could hear the sadness in Harry's voice. "Maybe." He answered, "but where would you be?"

"Who knows." Harry sighed. "G'night, Ron."

"'Night Harry." Ron answered as the boys lapsed back into silence, both aware that the other was wide-awake, but entirely wrapped up in his own thoughts.

Harry was thinking of Voldemort and the quickly approaching morrow, which would decide the future of so many. His thoughts were dark and disturbing, and the poor boy gathered no relief from the thought of his possible success. He tossed and turned through the night, finally succumbing to sleep in the wee hours of the morning, dreaming fitfully of his parents.

Ron, on the other hand, was thinking of many different things. He, of course was contemplating Harry's upcoming dangers, but in addition, he wasn't able to forget his normal adolescent thoughts. Hermione's body popped into his head, distracting him increasingly. (C'mon – he's a boy!) Finally, Ron thought hard about the golden key, which was currently residing under his pillow. He couldn't help but feel that this key had something to do with Harry, or that it would contribute to great adventures in the near future.

There you go. Review and I'll post the next chapter as soon as I get time.

A sneak peak into later chapters:

Ron and Hermione hooking up frantically in the prefect's bathroom

Some horribly confusing situations

The Marauders/ Lily? How can this be!? Review/Read on to see.